Vehicle-spring.



W. A. JOHNSON.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 21. 1912.

1,095,641, Patented May 5, 1914 UNITED STAT rnnr enten.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOI- TO JOHNSONSPECIALTY' COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

'VEHICLE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters lPatentl Patented May 5. i914.

Application filed December 21. 1912. Serial No. 737,978..

' body Dart of vehicle to supplement the action of the ordinary vehiclesprings in absorbingr shocks and jars.

Une off the objects of my invention is to provide suoli a device whereinsprings of ditferent characters are correlated for effectiveresilientsupport of the vehicle body, and more particularly my inventioncontemplates the use of relatively heavy expansion spring,r and arelatively light compression spring.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure involving withsuch springs suitable hanger members, a spring-surrounding casingl whichmay contain oil in which the springs are submerged, and other partsassoci-ated with the springs, the organization of the parts being` suchthat the suspension device is durable, compact, and etlicient, themovable parts being properly guided and the strains incident to useproperly distributed.

Another object is to provide such a device with an easy means of4adjusting the normal springT tension.

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from a consideration of the following descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanyinnr drawing', wherein-Figure 1 is a side elevation showing an application of the suspensiondevice between a 'running gear part-and a body part of a vehicle; Fig'.2 is a plan view of the suspension device constructed in accordance withmy invention; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section thereof: Fig` 4is a side elevation, take-n at right angles to the plane Iot Fig. 3.with the casingT in section; and Fig. 5 is a detail of the particularmeans for connecting one of tho springs with the other.

ln the drawinglgs` 10 indicates in generall a easing?r which in theparticular construction shown is composed'of a cylindrical casing member11, a lowerhead 12, and an upper.

head 13. the heads tightly engaging the cylindrical member 1l so thatthe casing` may be filled with oil for surrounding the movablecasing-contained parts to be described,

the casinoparts being-slip-iitted together,- that is, connected withoutscrew threadingl or extraneous fastening', so that they may easily beslipped together or separated.

As will be hereafter specifically pointed out. the device embodiessprings of different character', said springs being` connected togetherin suitable fashion for action in` series; that is to say, so that theone spring eifecti\'-,ly bears on the end portion `of the other so thatthe springs are effectively in tandem arrangement, and each havingsuitable connection with the respective one oit' two hanger members.Further. the particular construction shown preferably includes means forvarying the connection between one spring` and an associated part.Therefore` for convenience in carrying out my invention with theseparticular features enibodied in the device. one of the hanger membersmay be made integral with the upper casinay head 13, and one of thesprings may have connection to said'casinpr head through the agency ofan adjustable part carried thereby. Specifically, l-l-'l-lindicate earsprojecting upward from diametricallr opposite edges of 4the upper casinghc xd 13, each ear being perforated to receive a transverse bolt-rod 15,secured in place by nut 15 and provided with a spacing sleeve Theadjustable spring-engaging; part ijuiy take the form of aneXteriorly-grocved and interiorly-threadcd member 17. screwed on bolt1S. which is passed through a central perforation in the bottom head l2of the casina` with its head 1.9 in position to be readily turned tovary the relative height of the yspringI-engaging member 1 7. A

washer Q0 maybe provided between the head tween the parts in the.oppration thereof as will. hereafter more clearly appear.

coils ot which are noz-mal'y under with the suormive wils prf ed intocontart, tu tlA ond l use two springs, QL and which would individuallystand with their surcos ive coils nearer to each other than` thethickness ot a single coil, and Screw one into the other so that thecoils of one are. lutereiiigakajefl with the coils ot the orbe, bothsprings so interengagiup; standing under a tension which inust first beovercoinc before the coils will start to separate. "lho hanger n'ieiuberto whieh said expansion srninir connected may he ot any suitable torni,an ad Yautaiieous arraneenient heinff he n shown v-fhich iiavolves onlythe provision of a transverse bolt-rod carrying a sp' f sleeve Q43, a.washer Q7 at each end oi" spacing sleeve. and a, retaining liarh ot thewashers Q7 are jrroovod nutto resolve the end of the respective .springor 92h w' ish, as best shown in F bentto provide two vertical portionsand which extend up through the perforations in head lf and whiehreceive therebe-w the bolt-rods 'l5 and The bent portion 3l., betweensaid vertical portions 21) and 30, ol'A course. passes ove' the 'asherQT seated in thenroove thereof. ln

this arrangement. it will be noted that a particularly adaptableexpansion spring is provided by the two interengaged springs 22 and andthat this springr structure also provides two 'tree ends at the topthereof, one for each side ot the bolt-rod 95, tho expansion spring; 22as a whole having ends for connection to the bolt-rod at diametricallyopposite points of the spring. As a, further structural advantage, thelugs 1 4; ot the other l anger inember are pie'lieraliily tendedinwardly around the portions QS) and 30 as indicated at l1 in Fig. Q, sothat the portions Q9 and 30 work in a groove formed by said intuznedportions 14, thus atlordingguidance and lateral support o't-one.`

hanger nieinoer by the other.

Any suitable arrangement may be prol receiving spring 23, so that thereshall be in the use of the device no lateral movement 'of the springs attheir lower free ends. This ineans, in the structure shown, takesv thevtorni ot a centrally perforated-member 32, shown in detail in Fig. 5and having` two ing grooves, like the grooves in the adjustable member1? for engagement ot the coils of .on spring' 2S, and the larger pohaving' grooves for engagement et the coils ot .sprungy 22 as shown inFig. 3.

um theinenioer inay be slipped on the bolts 1S for free longitudinalmovement ther-emu.y springs and Q3 screwed over the respeiztive groovedportions 3ft and the adjustable nieniber il? screwed onto the bolt, andthe tree end oit spring 23 sore ved over it: grooved exterior. whenstrains put upon either spring will. be partly borne by the other springtl'irough the connection at their lower ends, but without possibility oflateral displacement at said free connected ends. Further.y turning ofthe boltI head 19 are As or lowers the n'ieniber 1? to lossen orincrease the `normal stress of the springs.

lu the use and operation ot the device, the upper bolt-rod lof-thattroni which the expansion springgSl buiige-is secured to a running; `geapart, as by curling the end of a lefrt .spring d() of a vehicle aroundthe sleeve QG, and the lower bolt-rod 16 is connected to the body partot the vehicle, as to the forward dowiiturned end of the traine,indicated at 41. is normally standing, therefore, the weight oi the bodypresses tlen ee,--l.iotb directly a gaiust the end of the bolt andthrough the cyliiidrical casing' member 11. to the lower casing head 12and head 19 ot the bolnwthe downward pressure transmitted to thespring-engaging ineinber 17. prinnr Q3. of course, presses upwardly tosustain the weight, its downward pressure againstj member 32 beingopposed by the upward tension o if spring 22, which is connected to thesupporting or running gear elen'ieiit of the vehicle through the bolt25. Vhen shocks are imparted to said bolt 25, the upper end of spring Q2will be pulled sharply upward, suoli upward movement acting:` throughthe `spring' to pull member 3Q upward and thereby compress spring andthrough it transmit the upward pressure to the bolt-rod 15 through theheretofore described parts7 all of the inovei'nents resultingl tronisuch shock being` deadened by the oil in which the moving partsaresubmerged. The use of such springs arranged between the'hang'er membersin the correlation deden shocks vSuch as are commonly imparted to therunning gear of' a vehicle, with the re scribed operates effectivelyto'take up sudextr-iorly-grooved portions 33 and 3st of d arentdian'ieter, the sinaller portion havy dowinvardly upon the casing head13 and sult that .the body of the vehicle runs smoothly and Withoutundue vibration.

While I have herein described a single embodiment of my invention, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes may bemade in the parts described without departing from the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

vhat .l claim is:

l. In a sus i tion, with hanger members, ot an expansion springconnected to one oi' said hanger members, a compressionspring;-'connected to the other hanger member. means oi' connectionbetween said expansion and compression springs, and meansextendingthrough the springs `for operation from beyond their connectedends to vary the connection betjveen one ot said sj'irings and itsassociated part for adjustment otl the spring tension of the device.

Q. ln a suspension device, the .combination, with hanger members. and acylindricahcasing, ot' an expansion sj'iring and a compression springivithiii said casing, said springs being eoncentrically arranged andconnected together at one end, means for connection ot the springs attheir other ends to the respective hanger members, and means extendingthrough the springs and the casing for operability from the exterior ofthe casing to adjust the connection of one spring with its hangermember.

3. In a suspension device, the combination, with hanger inemi'iers, ot acasing, a central guiding member in said casing, an expansion springanda compression spring within lsaid casing concentricaily arranged andconnected together at ont end in guided association with said centralguiding member, the other end ot' each said spring having connection toone of the hanger members.

l. In a. suspension device, the combina-v tion, with hanger members, ofa casing, a

central guiding member in said casing, an expansion 'sjiiring and acompression spring within said casing concentrically arranged andconnected` together at one end in guided association with said centralguiding member, the free end of one said spring having connection `toone of the hanger members and the free end of theother spring havingconnection to said guiding member, and means between said guiding memberand the other member to complete the connection from the' springs tosaid other hanger member.

In a suspension device, the combination, with hanger members, of acasing, a central guiding member in said casing, an adjustablespring-engaging member on said guiding ineml er, a spring Aengaged bysaid adjustable member with its free end guided pc1.:ion device, the.combinaby said central guiding member, and means completing theconnection between said guided free end and the other hanger member.

3. ln a suspension device, the combination, with hanger members, of acasing, a central guiding` member' insa-id casing, an adjustable springengaging member on said guiding men'ibei-a spring engaged by `saidadjustable member with its free end guided by said central guidingmember, and a spring connected between said guided free end of the firstspring and the' other hanger member.

i'. In a suspension device, the combination, with hanger members, forconnection respectively to a sapporting element and a supported element,an expansion spring coiinected at one end to one of the hanger members,a eonijn'ession spring connected at one end to ,the tree end of saidexpansion spring whereby said springs act against each other at saidpoint of connection, a casing, a bolt extending from the bottom of thecasing axially within said springs, and a member upon said boltengagedby said tree end of the compression spring.

ln a suspension device, the combination. with hanger members, acylindrical casing member having heads for closing the ends thereof, onesaid head associated With one hanger member` a bolt extending into thecasing member from the center'of the bottom head ot the casing, andconcentric compre sion and expansion springs engaged in .series betweensaid bolt and the other hanger member.

9. In a suspension device, the combination, with hanger meml'icrs, oftwo eXpansion springs beyond both hanger members arranged with. thecoilsl of' one interengaged with the coils oi the other, means toconnect one end of each spring to a hanger member at a point oppositethe point of connection of the other spring thereto, and means returningpast the springs to connect the other ends of said springs with theother hanger member.

l0. n a suspension device, the combination, with hanger members, of twoexpansion springs arranged With the coils of one interengaged with Lthecoils of' the, other, means to connect one end of each spring to 'ahanger men'iber at a point diametrically opposite to the point oiconnection of the other spring theretov` a compression spring Withinsaid expansion springs, and means to connect the ends of saidcompression spring respectively to the free ends of said interengagedexpansion springs and to the other hanger member.

l1. In a susoension device.y the combination, with hanger members, of acompression spring and an expansion spring concenet l 1,095,641

trically arranged and connected to each other and to the respectivehanger member, and an oil-containing casing inclosing said springscomprising a cylinder and heads maintained under longitudinallycompressive stress by said springs.

l2. In a devicev of the character described, a casing-wall, an upperhead slip-fitted thereon, a lower Ihead slip-iitted thereon, a partprojecting from the lower head into the casing, a spring structurebearing on the said projecting p ;rt to force the lower head forward tothe upper head and thereby hold the casing structure together, and meansto connect'the spring structure and the upper head respectively topoints of support ou the vehicle running gear and frame.

13. In a device of the character described, hanger members, a casinghaving a head provided with grooved ears for connection with one hangermember, and having apertures contiguous to said ears, a spring structurein the casing having two folded springloops extending through saidopenings and guided in the grooves in said ears, said fold ed loopsbeing arrangcd'ior connection with the other hanger member.

, let. In a device of the character described, two transverse bolts oneabove the other, a pair of springs suspended from one said bolt, a headsuspended from the other bolt, cach said spring having a foldedextension extending through and guided in a suitable opening in thehead, and connections affording bearing between tue extremities of saidsprings and said head.

15. In a suspension device, the kcombination, with hanger members, forconnect-ion respectively to a supporting and a supported element,disposed in approximately vertical alineinent, a casing below saidhangers hav-v ing its upper end connected tothe lower hanger, a -pair ofsprings, each having a folded upper end extending from engagement withthe upper hanger member into the interior of the easing on diametricallyopposite sides thereof, and a connection between the lower ends of saidspring at the bottom,t

of the casing. I

1G. In a device of the character described, the combination of twoparallel, transverse, suspension bolts, a pair of springs supported bvone of said bolts-,each said spring hav'- ing a folded. portion toengage the bolts and j a downward continuation terminating in ad coil, acasing surrounding saidsprin(r coils, said casing having a head carriedby the other suspension bolt -and provided with openings for thedownwardly extending portions ofsaid springs, and means effectingoperative connection between the two spring coils and the opposite endofv the casing.

IZ. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing,having heads and a cylindrical connection between said heads, a boltextending through the lower head, a bearing member adjustably mounted onsaid bolt, a suspension bolt connected with the head of the casing, a.second suspension bolt, and a pair of springs connected with said secondsuspension bolt extendingr through the head of the casing into the interior thereof, and connections between the said adjustable bearingmember and the ends ot' said springs.

1S. In a device of the character described, a casing comprising an upperhead, a lower head and a. connecting cylinder, a bolt e'xtendingthroughthe lower head of said cylinder, an adjustable bearing` part thereon, atransverse, suspension bolt connected with the upper head, anothertransverse suspenv sion bolt parallel with and above the first iid bolt,and spring connections interposed between said bearing member within thecasing and the last said bolt, said connections comprising two coilsprings, each terminating at its upper end in an upwardly extendingfoldcd port-ion projecting to suitable openings in the upper head,straddling the lowest suspension bolt and embracing the upper suspensionbolt.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing,comprising an upper head, a lower head 'and an interposed casing part, abolt extending through said lower head and having guiding bearing in theupper head, anv adjustable bearing part carried by said bolt, springmeans connected with said bearing part and extending to the exterior ofthe casing, and means to connect the upper head of the casing and saidspring means to opposed vehicle parts.

In testimony (whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSON.

In the presence of- IV. LiNN ALLEN,

MARY F. ALLEN.

